Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-03
CANADIAN BO0DLERS.
Intense Excitement Over Premier Mercer's
Revelations.

Intense Excitement Over Premier Mercer's
Revelations.
OTTAWA, ONT, February 2.-ENcite-
ment is intense over the revelation which
Premier Mercicr has made in regard TO the
corruption which was carried on by the
late Quebec Government. The full extent
of the plunderinG pcrpetrated will not he
known until Parliamentary Investigation
is held The apartments of the late Speak
er, which were elahOrately furnished out
of the Treasury, have been completely
stripped. Valuable plate and furnishings
are missing, and are known to have been
carried of by the boOdcrs. On
taking hold of the Treasury chest Mr..
Mercicr found it empty. Not one cent
was there TO the credit of the Government.
Worse than that, Sir John Macdonald had
advanced the defunct government over
$500, 600 out of the Dominion treasury,
which was charged against the Province,
all of which went into the general corrup-
ton fund.
In addition to this the Province has been
run heavily into debt and large amounts
of outstanding claims remain to be paid
and there is nothing with which to pay
them. Premier Mercier has issued Il cir
cular to officials in all branches Of the
public service, to balance their books and
report at once with an inventory OF all
property in their hands. Developments
are anxiously looked for.
AN EXPLANATION uF CANADA's COURSE.
The action taken by the United States
Senate regarding the Fisheries Rctaliatory
bill has aroused public agitation, hut the
Cabinet Ministers are not dissuaded from
continuing the course already pursued.
The groupd on which the Dominion au-
thOrities base their action was explained
to-day by Major Fulton, Deputy Minister
of Fisheries Referring to the distinction
made by the Canadian authorities in not
according to American fishing vessels the
same rights in Canadian waters and ports
rs those granted to American trading YES
sells, he said:
"Tbe Dominion Government understood
the spirit of this portion OF the treaty 10
refer to the preservation of the mackerel
fisheries, for il fishing vessels were allowed
to tran-ship their cargOes through Canadian
territory, they could discharge a cargo and
return to the fishing banks within 81 hours
and would thus carry on wholesale syS-
TEN of despoilation which would tend to
destroy the fisheries even more than is now
being done, while on the other hand If
compelled to go to the United States Ter
ritOry before discharging it takes them at
least "a days on the return journey and
thus prevents such rapid despOllation as
would otherwise take place. The Govern
ment admitted the right Of American
fishermen to these deep sea fisheries, but
the framing of this particular portion Of
the treaty was understood to have the pre-
servaton of the fisheries which were really
international property in view"
MUST LOOK To THE COLONIES FOR PAY.
The Imperial Government has issued an
order stating that when officers of the I'M
perial forces are serving the colonies they
are to look to the latter for all pay. The
emoluments of such officers now employed
in colonial service will therefore he can
celled. This, it is claimed, will have the
effect of discouraging English officers from
entering the services Of the colonies, for
the simple reason that they can secure bet
ter remuneration al home.
Government officials here when they
learned of the destitute condition Of the
Cree Indians, who are starving to death IN
the mountains near Sun river, Mont, de-
clared that the unfortunate savages would
be treated rs British subjects if they re-
turned to Canada, despite the part they
took in the Northwest rebellion.